Volume 8 Number 8 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER February

Transcription

1 Volume 8 Number 8 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER February From the General Manager As Friends' members who read the Main Line Xtra pages of our website will know already, GCR will shortly become part of the City of Leicester's celebrations - this follows the recent discovery of King Richard III's skeleton. With GWR King Class locomotive No.6023 King Edward II already at GCR, Leicester City Council, with the agreement of the Great Western Society at Didcot, have requested that the locomotive be re-named, for a short period, as the long scrapped No.6015 King Richard III. This will be done shortly with new nameplates being fabricated. While we're on the subject of the King, please don't forget that it will be in steam this weekend, alongside Sir Lamiel and no There's a special timetable with extra trains, so do please try and come along - you won't be disappointed! Which also leads me onto the subject of railway closures, possibly including GCR. Before I worry anyone too much, I should explain that we're looking here at what was happening fifty years ago with the publication of the infamous Beeching Report which of course sealed GCR's demise as part of Britain's national rail network. Our long-standing supporter, Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester is the co-author of a new book Holding The Line How Britain s Railways Were Saved, and will be signing copies at Loughborough Central this Saturday - further details on our website. Do please come along and talk to Richard - you'll find he's just as passionate about our railway as you are and therefore does all that he can to assist in GCR's development. Please don't forget that members of Friends with a valid membership card will be entitled to 1 discount on buying the book. The book has had rave reviews and will, we feel, become a classic of modern railway history. Amongst many other things it opens the lid on the Marples, Ridgeway, Beeching era and examines the truth of what happened in the MacMillan era. Corruption, who said that??? Richard Patching Page 1 / 7

2 AWARD WINNING SWITHLAND SIDINGS COMPLEX OPEN TO VISITORS AT SPECIAL GREAT CENTRAL GALA Visiting Engines to star at three day event 26th to 28th April It s the three day steam dream railway enthusiasts have been waiting for. For the first time since the completion of the award winning signalling at Swithland Sidings, the Great Central Railway is opening the area to the public. With guest locomotives and a super intensive timetable, the unique spectacle of steam locomotives passing each other, running into loops and shunting in sidings will unfold. There won t be a dull moment! The gala will feature passenger and freight running on the award winning Leicestershire heritage line, and also the first few yards of the newly laid Mountsorrel branch line. Visitors will be able to stay all day in a special viewing at Swithland, closer to the action than has ever been allowed before. Such intense action was once common place on Britain s Railways but can now only be seen on the GCR. The list of locomotives expected in action is also impressive. After an extended stay, GWR King class No King Edward II will put on a farewell performance. As the railway waves goodbye to one visitor, it welcomes three others for the first time. London and North Western Railway Webb Coal Tank No 1054 will feature on the GCR s freight trains (subject to contract). Meanwhile the sidings at Swithland will be shunted by two diminutive locomotives. Bagnall 0-4-0s Alfred and Judy were built with very low cabs and short wheelbases to cope with low bridges and tight curves on the Cornish branch lines they once worked. Completing the motive power line up are engines from the GCR home fleet including Ivatt 2 No 46521, Red liveried LMS 8F No 48624, LMS Jinty No and BR Standard 2 No In all, eight locomotives are expected in action. Kate Tilley, Great Central Railway marketing manager said, We ve started to see the potential of the new signalling at Swithland Sidings at our recent major galas. However, we know people want to be allowed on the ground there, to see the true theatre of the railways for themselves. It s going to be a very exciting event and with the King, some guests, and so much to see, it is certainly not one to be missed. Children will be delighted by Alfred and Judy and they will right at home shunting at Swithland. Hot food will be available at Swithland during the three day event. Passengers will be able to reach Swithland using a complimentary shuttle bus from Quorn and Woodhouse station. When changing trains at Quorn, look out for demonstration high speed mail drops and locomotives being turned on the new turntable. On additional unusual attraction is a narrow gauge locomotive. Tallyllyn Railway No. 3 Sir Hayden will be on display at Quorn and Woodhouse station. Usually found running trains in Wales, the locomotive is coming back to Leicestershire for the first time since it was built at Henry Hughes Locomotive and Tramway Engine Works Ltd in Loughborough (the site is now occupied by the Brush Works). The locomotive will be posed alongside two large diesels also built locally as part of a Made In Loughborough display. Page 2 / 7

3 The railways family tea rooms and bistros will all be open during the event. Timetables and fares will be available at the Great Central Railway s website closer to the event. All locomotives and attractions appear subject to contract and availability. No.3 SIR HAYDN GOES BACK TO ITS BIRTHPLACE Talyllyn Railway s Locomotive No.3 Sir Haydn is going on its travels in April, when it is due to be moved to Leicestershire to appear at the Great Central Railway s Swithland Steam Gala between 26th and 28th April Here it will be displayed in the yard at Quorn and Woodhouse station along with a Talyllyn publicity and sales stand staffed by volunteers from the railway. This is an appropriate venue for the locomotive to visit as it is very close to the original works where it was built in These were the works of Henry Hughes Hughes s Locomotive & Tramway Engine Works Ltd. in Loughborough, which later became the Falcon Engine and Car Works. This in turn was taken over by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company in the early twentieth century. No.3 was the third of three identical s built by Hughes for the 2ft 3ins gauge Corris Railway, being rebuilt as an in It continued to serve the line until it closed in In 1951 it, along with Corris No.4, was purchased by the embryonic Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society for the Talyllyn where it has worked ever since, although it has returned to the Corris on two occasions in the last few years. It was named Sir Haydn on the Talyllyn after the long-time owner of the line before it was preserved, but often appears as its alter-ego Sir Handel from the Skarloey Railway. Currently No.3 is based at the Corris Railway where it has been displayed since its boiler certificate expired last year. The Corris Railway Society have agreed to release the locomotive early from a leasing agreement in order for this visit to take place. While the locomotive is away from Tywyn it is also planned to visit other venues, details of which will be released in due course. Richard Patching, Great Central Railway s General Manager said Although it will not be in steam it should prove to be a unique attraction during the gala, along with, hopefully, another standard gauge diesel Loughborough locomotive, plus the other attractions at the station including the working turntable. All Talyllyn members are also entitled to privilege ticket rates during the gala, upon production of a valid membership card. A spokesman for the Talyllyn commented Our thanks must go to all those who have made this visit possible and enabled No.3 to return to its birthplace. Particularly we would like to thank the Corris Railway Society for being so gracious in releasing the locomotive to us. We hope that it will prove to be a great attraction during the gala. Page 3 / 7

4 InterRail Pass Scheme 2013/2014 The annual two person passes are again available to staff and volunteers at a cost of 25. These can be used at the majority of heritage railways, and a list is supplied with the passes, although there are usually restrictions on Gala Days and special events. To apply please forward to myself a cheque payable to Heritage Railway Association (or HRA ) together with an SAE unless you wish to collect from Loughborough Booking Office. Passes will be valid from March 1st. Steve Saunders Page 4 / 7

5 MEET PEPPA & GEORGE - 9th & 10th March Join Peppa and her little brother George for an exciting day out for all the family. This is the sixth time that Peppa and George have come to the railway and they loved it so much they re coming again. You can meet Peppa and have your photo taken with her and then meet George and have your photo taken with him too! There are lots of lovely things to see and do, funfair rides to play on, a miniature railway and to keep you nice and dry we have even put up a special marquee where you can magic and tricks with Mr Twister. Take a ride on the big steam train, choo choo, and for an extra special treat why not get your face painted just like Peppa s, OINK OINK BOOK YOUR TICKETS ON LINE NOW, VISIT: Branch Line Society/ GCR Track Visit - 17 March 2013 Our friends at the Branch Line Society will be chartering a special train on Sunday 17th March Departing at 08:00, and due to conclude by 12:00, they are delighted to offer what is believed to be the most comprehensive track bash of GCR infrastructure. It is intended that either a 2 or 3 car DMU formation is used. The proposed route is as follows: Depart Loughborough Central Platform 1 - Quorn and Woodhouse Up Reception North - Quorn and Woodhouse Up reception South, via North crossover - Quorn and Woodhouse turntable road - Quorn and Woodhouse cattle dock road - Swithland Up Loop - Swithland head shunt - Swithland Up Loop - Swithland Up Main, via double slip - Rothley Up Platform - Rothley C&W yard - Leicester North platform to EOL Leicester North Bay platform, via South end of loop - Loughborough Down Loop via Swithland Down Loop - Loughborough Shed Road 1 - Loughborough Platform 1 North Loughborough Shed Road 2 - Up Through siding South - Carriage siding 1, via Down loop - Loughborough Platform 2 North via Shed Road 1. As usual a track map, stock list and souvenir ticket will be provided to aid enjoyment of the day. Note that passengers will be required to sign a short disclaimer as a condition of participation in this event. The event will operate at a fare of 22 per person for members of the Branch Line Society, 27 non-members. To book your place, please forward a cheque payable to Branch Line Society to Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, Crewe. CW2 6XN, providing an address where possible. Any queries should be addressed to Kev Adlam preferably by to kev.adlam@branchline.org.uk or by telephone 20:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday on The fixture is expected to fill quickly so do please book promptly if you are interested. An opportunity for a supporting fixture in the afternoon is being pursued, and if successful further details will be provided. Richard Patching Page 5 / 7

6 Leicestershire area group March 8 Steam in the Snow Les Nixon Wintry scenes from pre-60 s to the present century in the U.K. and worldwide. All meeting are held at St. Bartholomews Church Hall, Church Lane, Quorn, near Loughborough, starting at Free admittance, although donations welcome to defray costs. Refreshments available during the interval. Any enquiries to John Calton on , Keith Satterly or Peter Hack Northamptonshire area group March 6 Last years of BR steam Roger Jones Slide show from the last 5 years of BR All meetings are held at Weston Favell Parish Hall, junction of Booth Lane and Wellingborough Road, Northampton, NN3 3EP, starting at 19:30. Free admittance, although donations welcome to defray costs. Refreshments available. Any enquiries to Tony Hemmings Greenacres Wedding Fayre The Greenacres facility will be hosting its first Wedding Fayre on Saturday 23rd February from 10.30am 4.30pm, admission is free and there will be a variety of stall holders displaying wedding ideas plus live music and lovely food as The Platform Café will be open all day. We hope you will pop along to see what s on offer. Or if you are interested in hiring a stall for the day please get in touch on the number below as we still have a stall space left due to cancellation Page 6 / 7

7 Feb Fish Fridays Feb Fish Fridays will be taking place every Friday in February at The Platform Café with; Salmon Fishcakes, Chips & Salad or Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas or Scampi, Chips & Peas all at 3.99 per person For bookings please call New Menu at The Platform Cafe The Platform Café has a new menu from this week with new main meals and deserts for you all to enjoy, plus the little ones will have their own menu to choose from. Wi-Fi has now been installed at The Platform Café, so if you need to catch up on important s or just want to surf the internet whilst enjoying a coffee please ask bar staff for a password. The Platform is also available for private hire, please ring for further details. To keep up to date on what s happening at Greenacres please find us on Facebook with Greenacres or follow us on If you have any news or photos you d like included in the weekly newsletter, please forward to martin.ward@gcrailway.co.uk by 10.30am Wednesday. GCR Plc Page 7 / 7